Jury finds Keon “Bird” Mangun guilty of third degree murder

Last night at 7:13 p.m., the jury returned a verdict of guilty for Keon “Bird” Mangun on third degree murder charges. Judge Conrad Freeberg polled each jury member to confirm their verdict.

Mangun sold heroin to Brandon Bedford and Christian Dahn in North Minneapolis on Feb 27, 2012. Bedford provided it to 19-year-old Miranda Gosiak of Little Falls, who died of an overdose Feb 28, at the home of Tanya Ashby in Little Falls.

The trial began Monday with jury selection, followed by the attorneys’ opening statements. Prosecutor Assistant County Attorney Todd Kosovich then called Little Falls police officer Dave Stevenson and Sgt. Charles Strack to testify before recessing for the day.

Mangun was represented by Landon Ascheman of Ascheman and Smith and by Michael Kemp of MET Law Group, both of St. Paul

The trial resumed Wednesday with the testimony of Ashby and Dahn, who were each given immunity for their testimony. Although they pleaded guilty to their activities on that day and will be held responsible, if anything new came out of their testimony, they would not be charged based on that new information. Also called to testify Wednesday was Morrison County sheriff’s deputy Doug Rekstad.

The state then rested its case. The defense made a motion for acquittal, which was denied by Freeberg. No defense witnesses were called. Kosovich and Ascheman gave closing statements.

The jury conferred for approximately three hours before announcing they had reached a verdict.